WOODBURY, N.Y., Nov. 24 ~PRNewswire~ -- American Movie Classics will launch a second channel, Romance Classics, a 24-hour, cable network dedicated to classic love stories in movies, television series and the world of romance in early 1994.
Romance Classics will be the first cable channel designed to be launched specifically on cable tiers in the post Cable Act environment. The announcement was made today by Joshua Sapan, president, and Kate McEnroe, vice president and general manager, American Movie Classics.
Romance Classics will appeal to the tens of millions of women who watch romantically oriented series on television. In 1991, romance novels accounted for 46 percent of all mass market paperbacks and total spending in the romance market hit $750 million. Romance novel readers spend an average of $30 per month for romance novels. In fact, six out of 10 paperbacks on the New York Times bestseller list on Nov. 15 were romance novels.
The greatest romance movies from the 1930s-1980s, exclusive original productions, and signature television series will be featured in the unparalleled AMC tradition on Romance Classics -- uncut, uncolorized and without commercial interruption. Romance Classics will launch with a film library of more than 1,000 titles.
Currently under development are a full slate of original series and full-length specials based on the most beloved romance novels. In addition, lavish coverage of society and celebrity weddings will be featured in original specials from around the United States and Great Britain.
In the acclaimed AMC manner, romantic leading ladies and gentlemen from the worlds of film and television will introduce the feature programming. A special Romance Classics host in the "Bob Dorian" tradition will soon be announced.
AMC's research data indicates that Romance Classics on a tier at $2.95-$4.95, with four other services could be responsible for a 6-8 percent increase in penetration for local cable operators.
"As a channel specifically designed to be launched on a cable tier, Romance Classics will be a boon to cable operators as they search for ways in this re-regulatory environment to expand their business and serve the needs of their community with high quality programming," noted Sapan.
McEnroe commented, "With Romance Classics, we will translate the highly profitable romance category to cable television. Clearly, based on the overwhelming success for romance books, movies and television series, there will be a consumer demand for Romance Classics, a highly differentiated and targeted cable network.
"In addition, with Romance Classics, we will create the same kind of high value and high quality entertainment that is AMC's trademark. Romance Classics is our valentine to the cable industry and our viewers."
Special marketing activities patterned after successful AMC campaigns and cross channel opportunities with AMC will set Romance Classics apart from other new channels and assist in driving a cable tier.
Sharon Patrick, president and chief operating officer, Rainbow Programming Holdings, said, "The launch of Romance Classics is a good example of Rainbow's strategy of leveraging and expanding strong brands, and providing greater value to operators and consumers. We're very proud of this new member of the Rainbow family."
American Movie Classics, television's only 24-hour, all-classic movie network, presents Hollywood's greatest pictures from the 1930s through the 1970s as they were originally intended to be seen: unedited and without colorization. AMC is currently seen in 43 million homes nationwide.
AMC is part of Rainbow Programming Holdings, Inc. which also includes Bravo, the SportsChannel Regional Networks and SportsChannel America.
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~CONTACT: Caroline Bock or Jayne Wallace of American Movie Classics, 516-364-2222~

CO: American Movie Classics ST: New York IN: ENT SU: PDT

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